Olympus SZ-12 vs Panasonic FP7

Let's look more closely at the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FP7, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the SZ-12 (14MP) and the FP7 (16MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ-12 was announced 13 months later than the FP7 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FP7 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the SZ-12 grades vs the FP7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus SZ-12 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP7. The whole galleries are available at Olympus SZ-12 Gallery & Panasonic FP7 Gallery.

For anybody who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-12 offers physical dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Panasonic FP7 has dimensions of 101mm x 59mm x 18mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 147 grams (0.32 lbs).

Compare the Olympus SZ-12 versus Panasonic FP7 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the SZ-12 compared to the FP7.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-12 and FP7 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it can be tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by going over specs. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SZ-12 and FP7.

All in all, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic FP7 to deliver greater detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher SZ-12 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.